You’ve been searching the Internet for vacation ideas, and you keep seeing the words adventure travel tour. You think this must mean something grueling like a trip to the ice fields of Antarctica, a mountain climbing expedition in the Himalayas, or a machete-wielding plod through a South Pacific jungle. You shudder at the very idea of such a thing and tell yourself, That’s not for me! Better a nice comfortable hotel, or even just stay in my own backyard.

You could be very wrong in your interpretation of what an adventure travel tour actually is. Take another look at the three words.

Adventure: an unusual or exciting experience. You do not have to expose yourself to danger or even discomfort to have an adventure. Sure, people who like to jump out of airplanes, climb mountains and explore caves have adventures. But so do people who visit the Louvre in Paris, ride gondolas through the canals of Venice, marvel at the Acropolis in Athens, or explore the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. For them the adventure is just as satisfying as a wild ride down the white water of a California river is to a kayaker.

Next word, travel: simply to go from one place to another. Planes, trains, boats and buses! It is true that modern travel can be both a convenience and an exercise in frustration. But it does not have to be an ordeal especially if you prepare well for it and it doesn’t even have to involve long distances. A thoughtfully packed flight bag of backpack can make a long trip by plane, train or bus less arduous. Just put in some things that will help you pass the time or deal with any minor discomforts. Moreover, very often a great adventure travel tour is practically next door. Very often your own community or one nearby will have attractions that people from other places travel many miles to see or experience. But local people tend to take them for granted. There are also smaller, less publicized attractions that are just waiting to be discovered.

The last word, tour: a sightseeing trip. Many people think it means continuous travel, as in a tour of Europe in which one visits Rome, Paris, Berlin and other major cities. Well, yes, it can have that meaning. But it doesn’t necessarily have to. If you live in Toronto, Canada, for example, and you visit your own citys Black Creek Pioneer Village, you have had a tour. If you enjoyed the experience, maybe you’d like to tour the Doon Pioneer Village in Kitchener, just a little more than an hours drive down the highway. While you’re there, perhaps you would like to expand your tour to the nearby Mennonite village of St. Jacobs, with its renowned Farmers Market. You’ll have a great tour, and you’ll be home in Toronto by suppertime. Similar possibilities for an adventure travel tour exist almost everywhere.

So, don’t be intimidated by those three words. Then can mean a lot of fun for you.

Adventure Travel Tour is a post from: Adventure Travel and Trekking Demystified

Does the term adventure travel mean the traveler must become an Indiana Jones and endure steaming jungles, baking deserts or stormy seas? Does it mean risking life and limb in war zones or regions that have been prone to terrorist attack? Does it mean crawling on your belly in the claustrophobic depths of a cave, or dangling from a rope at a cliff-face hundreds of feet above a torrential river?

The answer is no, even though all of those things are certainly the sort of adventures some people actively pursue. Adventure travel, really, is whatever you want it to be. It might involve physical risk, but it doesn’t have to. It might mean travel to a distant and exotic place, but it doesn’t have to. It might cost a lot of money, but it doesn’t have to. If you travel somewhere, anywhere, and you have an experience that excites you, provides you with an escape from the ordinary, and leaves you feeling happy, then you’ve had an adventure.

Of course, every persons idea of what is adventurous is different. A history buff might not be the least interested in a vacation in Las Vegas or a visit to Disney World. But he or she might be thrilled to tour the Tower of London, visit the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, or stand at the Irish graveside of some long dead ancestor. The discovery of some previously unknown ancestors name in the archival records of a small town can be as exciting for the history lover as landing a prize rainbow trout is to an ardent fisherman.

Most people would agree that adventure travel that involves sky diving, mountain climbing, shooting white water rapids in a kayak, or photographing polar bears in the Arctic would be exciting. But adventure travel can also involve a leisurely trip on the Mississippi River in a paddle wheeler, a stroll across the English countryside in search of a certain species of bird, a tour of the wineries of southern France, or a shell-collecting expedition on an out-of-the-way Caribbean beach.

Adventure travel does not necessarily mean a trip to the airport or train station. Interesting things to see and do are often within ones own back yard, or at least an easy car drive from home, wherever that might be. They are not as well publicized as major sites or operations, so people have to look for them. They can include small local museums, houses of special interest (the birthplace of a famous person), small sanctuaries for wildlife and flora, restored buildings or even communities dating back to historic times, and so on. Even if one does not own a car, there are sometimes local bus tours to this site, or excursions organized by social groups.

Yes, adventure travel can take you to the other side of the world, to the top of a mountain, or to the wildest places on earth. But it might also take you to the inside of a little old church just around the corner, that you’ve walked past a thousand times.

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Even with the break-up of the former Soviet Union, Russia remains the largest country in the world. A person could enjoy Russia adventure travel every vacation of his or her adult life and still not see all of this vast nation. But one Russian adventure travel feature that will allow you to see a great cross section of it would be a trip on the famous Trans-Siberian Railway.

Once romanticized as The Orient Express, this epic train journey begins in Moscow and ends about a week later (travel time varies) in Vladivostok on Russias Pacific coast. During the 5,578 mile journey across seven time zones, the train stops at many towns and villages, giving passengers a chance to stretch their legs and look around. People who have taken this trip say it is similar to a cruise ship experience because passengers get to know each other. The scenery, they say, is most spectacular in winter. Veterans of the Trans-Siberian Railway also advise would-be travelers not to expect cruise-ship quality service. It is a good idea, they say, to take along your own food.

During your Russia adventure travel tour you’ll certainly want to see the great cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. Moscows Kremlin is a must, as is the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, which houses one of the most incredible collections of art in the world. But Russia is also a land of magnificent churches and mighty fortresses, all of them steeped in history a history that was often violent and bloody.

For a truly wonderful Russia adventure, travel on the Volga River. This great water highway goes through the very heart of Russia. It flows past fabled cities like Kazan, and the ruins of Itil and Sarai, once the principal cities of the fierce warriors of the Golden Horde.

If you love winter sports, what better place to go than Russia? There is heli-skiing on Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, with professional guides to ensure your fun and safety. Experienced snow-boarding enthusiasts have said that the snow-boarding in the Caucasus Mountains and on the volcanoes of Kamchatka is unparalleled anywhere else in the world.

There is a great selection of activities to choose from for your Russia adventure travel tour. Go hiking across the taiga or along the shores of Lake Baikal, one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the world. Take a jeep tour from St. Petersburg into the Russian countryside for an opportunity to see the natural beauty of the land and to meet the Russian people. Try your skills as a fisherman at Novikovo, where the waters teem with Siberian char, silver salmon, Dolly Varden trout, and many other game fish. Your Russian adventure travel tour is certain to be memorable.

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Most people love the idea of family adventure travel. The notion of mother, father and the kids doing something together that is fun and adventurous would initially seem fool proof. But family adventure travel is the sort of vacation that must, perhaps more than any other adventure trip, be carefully thought out and well planned, if the vacation is to be a success.

Some families have the enviable situation in which all of the children are willing to go anywhere and do anything the parents suggest. Camping, sailing, staying at a dude ranch the kids are all game. Not all families, however, have that luxury. Perhaps one or more of the children don’t like the vacation the parents have suggested. In that case, it could be a good idea to have a family discussion in which all can participate. The parents could explain all the available options, and maybe a course of action satisfactory to all would develop.

In choosing a destination and activity for family adventure travel, parents must take a number of things into consideration. Is this trip really suitable for small children? If it involves long car rides, have the parents considered means of keeping the children from becoming bored? Many vehicles now have video equipment of course, but if that isn’t available there are games and other diversions for childrens entertainment during long drives.

When parents are packing childrens clothing for the trip, they should anticipate bad weather. Its better to have those sweaters and not need them, than to need them and not have them. What about medications? If a childs medicine should run out, will it be available where the family is going? Maybe a spare bottle would be a good idea. If a child should be hurt or become ill during family adventure travel, how readily available is good medical care, and what kind of insurance coverage do the parents have?

Imagine that you and your spouse and children are on a Caribbean cruise. The ship stops at an island port for a day of shopping and sightseeing. In the crowded marketplace one of the children becomes separated from the rest of the family. Such things do happen. Have you and your family talked about what to do in such and event? Has a meeting place been pre-arranged? Does the child have identification? Does he or she know where to go for help? Do the parents know where to go for help?

Many tour operators offer packages especially designed for family adventure travel. Their tours are kid friendly, because they want families to be repeat clients. But when it comes to family adventure travel that is both fun and safe for kids, the main responsibility lies with the parents.

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Planning your adventure vacation on your own can be a daunting task. There are so many different things to take into consideration, like transportation, accommodation, food, sightseeing schedules, activities, and so on. By using an adventure travel company, you can spare yourself a lot of time and frustration. You can also save quite a lot of money. By booking charters and group tours, and through its contacts in the world wide tourist industry, an adventure travel company can have access to discounts you would never be able to get as an individual traveler. Also, because the adventure travel company gets feedback about various tours from previous clients, and has an ear on the travel industry grapevine, it has up to date information on whats great and whats not so great. The adventure travel company representative will have all that data in mind when you book your trip, and will advise you accordingly. That representative wants you to have the best vacation possible, so you’ll be back next year.

The adventure travel company has something for everyone. Do you want to go windsurfing in the Dominican Republic? Or snorkeling at Australias Great Barrier Reef? Or mountain climbing in British Columbia? The adventure travel company can arrange the trip for you.

Or maybe you just want a special weekend trip to a ski resort in New Hampshire, a fishing lodge in Northern Ontario, or a wildlife sanctuary in the Florida Everglades. Your adventure travel company can take care of that as well. Even day trips to interesting places just an easy bus or train ride from your own town are possible.

Some adventure travel companies specialize in certain types of activities; for example, wildlife tours and cross-country hiking adventures. Others limit their tours to certain parts of the world, such as Southeast Asia or Western Europe. Many companies send clients just about anywhere in the world to participate in almost every sport or activity under the sun (or water).

There are adventure travel companies whose clientele tend to be those people who can afford the most exotic and expensive of tours. There are also those companies that try to package excellent tours to fit every budget. Some companies will arrange tours for private groups, or will have tours especially for women or families. The company representative will tell you anything you need to know about the place you will be visiting.

The biggest decision you’ll have to make is choosing the travel company you want to go with. There are directories that list them. Pick out a few that look like they have what you want, and contact them. Compare their services and prices. Then call one and leave all the work up to the representative.

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You’ve read book reviews and movie reviews, but adventure travel reviews? Yes, there is such a thing as an adventure travel review, and it serves a very good purpose. It lets travelers like you know what a given destination or tour is like before you go to that place or take that tour. Adventure travel costs money, even if you go with the most inexpensive, low budget package you can find. You don’t want to spend your money, only to be disappointed.

The literature for a tour will tell you all that is fun and exciting about it. Adventure travel reviews will often tell you that, too. But advertising people don’t write adventure travel reviews. Ordinary people like you write them, and they do it to share their personal experiences and opinions. If the writer had a great trip, he or she wants to tell you about it. If the writer had a terrible trip, he or she wants to tell you about that, too.

Adventure travel reviews will rate things like the quality of food, drink, service and accommodation. They will tell readers if equipment like bicycles or ski gear was up to standards, if the guides were professional, and if the tour company delivered its product as advertised. They will tell you, for example, that a certain tour of the Dominican Republic was great in most respects but one. On the day the author went whale watching at the Samana Peninsula, the guide assigned to his group spoke very little English and so could not answer anyones questions. On the other hand, the author might say that the whale watching trip was the high point of a tour that was otherwise disappointing for a number of reasons.

One of the most important things adventure travel reviews do is warn readers of problems that are usually unexpected and frequently unavoidable. These often occur in Third World countries where conditions are not what visitors from more developed countries are accustomed to. They can include things like poor or even absent washroom facilities in some communities, beaches and other places where hawkers and vendors can be a nuisance, the reckless habits of local drivers, or even the smell of a nearby garbage dump wafting across the grounds of the resort.

A reader who is contemplating a trip that includes a hike up a mountainside in a Caribbean country might read in a brochure that part of the trek involves wading a mountain stream that is only a few inches deep. The brochure says that the guides will have slip-on rubber shoes for people who don’t want to get their own footwear soaked. The travel review writer who has been on that trip will advise the reader that the soles of those rubber shoes are so thin, the wearer can feel every sharp stone in the stream bed, and might as well be walking barefoot. Now the reader knows that if he goes on that tour, hed better wear shoes or boots he doesn’t mind getting soaked.

Adventure travel reviews can be found in travel guides and online. Theyre there to help you.

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Everyone loves an adventure. Travel tips can help you ensure that your adventure will not be a disappointment, or even a disaster. Here are a few adventure travel tips from people who are experienced travelers.

Before you go: research the country to which you are going. Is there anything about the political situation of which you should be aware? Do you need a passport to enter the country? Perhaps it would be a good idea to have the phone number of your countrys embassy or consulate, just in case of a problem.

Are you covered medically? This is one of the most important adventure travel tips. Illness and accidents happen. In some countries, especially in the Third World, medical treatment is not available unless you can pay for it. You could be treated at a hospital, and then be kept there until the bill is paid. This has happened. If you do have medical coverage, how does it work? Does the insurance company pay up front, or do you have to pay and then get reimbursed later? If at all possible be sure you have funds available to handle an emergency.

When you go: be aware of security measures that are now necessary for air travel. Don’t have anything on your person or in your carry-on that could be confiscated at the airport. When you are on the plane, pay attention to instructions about filling out the visa forms for the country you are entering. If you do not fill out the document on the plane, you could be charged a fee for completing one when you arrive at the airport. It is also a good idea to have some American one-dollar bills on hand for tipping when you go through the airport.

When you get there: adventure travel tips from veteran travelers urge other tourists to use common sense. Remember, you are in another country. People do many things differently from what you are accustomed to. You have a right as a guest to be treated well, but you also have a responsibility as a guest to behave well. Remember, if you are tempted to buy or use illegal drugs, that the laws in the country you are visiting are not necessarily the same as those of your own country. Foreign jails can be extremely unpleasant, and your family might have to spend a lot of money to get you home.

Just a few more adventure travel tips: stolen passports are worth a lot of money on the black market. Make sure yours is in a safe place when you are not actually carrying it. If the tap water of your host country is not safe to drink, do not use it to make ice-cubes. Freezing does not kill bacteria. Nor should the water be used to rinse lettuce or other vegetables or fruits. In some Third World countries it is best to know whom you are dealing with if you rent a vehicle. Disreputable rental operators have been known to steal rented motorcycles and cars, and then bill the renter for the cost of the vehicle. At night, keep away from dark, unfamiliar places. Being safe means being smart.

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For a comparatively small country, the Land of the Kiwis has been abundantly blessed with a diversity of natural attractions that will make a New Zealand adventure travel tour a truly memorable experience. The two main islands of New Zealand were originally inhabited by the Maori people, who called their home Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud. In the nineteenth century the islands were colonized by British settlers.

For lovers of nature, New Zealand is a paradise. The seas off New Zealand are a great place to see several species of whales and dolphins, as well as seals, penguins, and the New Zealand sea lion, one of the rarest sea lions in the world.

If you take one of the many cross-country hikes available for your New Zealand adventure travel tour, you will see unusual flora that does not occur naturally anywhere else in the world. Among New Zealands unique plants are the Mount Cook lilies, the largest daisies in the world; the vegetable sheep, a strange, hairy plant that from a distance looks like a sheep; and the kauri, New Zealands best known tree, which can live up to four thousand years.

No land-based mammals evolved on New Zealands islands, but hundreds of species of birds, many of them flightless, populate all parts of the country. The best known is the kiwi, New Zealands national symbol. But there are also albatross, kakapo and kea.

Backpackers will love their New Zealand adventure travel tour. There are bush walks, mountain trails, and beaches that offer splendid scenery and unique experiences. You can hike across a glacier, or you can bathe in naturally heated water at Hot Water Beach near Whitianga. Along the Catlins Coast you will see the strange Moeraki Boulders. These naturally formed spheres are perfectly round and have honeycombed centers.

Of course, because New Zealand is composed of islands, you can be sure to include water sports in your New Zealand adventure travel tour. In addition to sailing, canoeing, kayaking, jet-skiing (a New Zealander invented the jet-ski) and white water rafting, New Zealand also offers the unique experience of black water rafting through subterranean caves.

If you like the thrill of bungee jumping, a sport that originated in New Zealand, then you’ll want to take the leap off Kawerau Bridge, sit of the very first commercial bungee jump. Visitors to New Zealand have also said a tour of the country is not complete unless you take in a rugby game. It is the New Zealanders national game, and one at which they excel.

Add to all these such activities as fishing, caving, skiing and surfing, you can hardly go wrong with New Zealand adventure travel.

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Alaska is the largest state in the American union and shares the western part of the North American Arctic with Canada. Though it has all the technological benefits of the modern age, The Land of the Midnight Sun retains the frontier spirit of the pioneers who went there in search of gold and adventure. Of course, Alaska adventure travel is much easier today than it was in the late nineteenth century. Magnificent wilderness parks are just a few miles drive from the downtown areas of Alaskas major cities.

One great type of Alaska adventure travel is cruising. There are cruises in Prince William Sound and through the islands of Alaskas panhandle, that strip of coastal land between British Columbia and the ocean. Cruise passengers see some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the world, and can witness the birth of an iceberg when huge chunks of ice fall from glaciers into the sea. This is called calving. The waters off Alaska are also splendid for whale watching.

If you would like your Alaska adventure travel to be on water but in smaller craft, there are canoe trips that will take you up mighty rivers and across jewel-like lakes. Some canoe tours include overnight camping on islands. You can canoe for days on Alaskas river and lakes, and not see another human being.

Of course, in this wilderness land backpacking is a very popular form of Alaska adventure travel. There are well-marked, easy trails for those who do not want too strenuous an experience. For hikers who are in good physical shape, are well experienced, and want something more challenging, there are trailless hikes. This means that about three-quarters of Alaskas boundless outdoors is there for you to explore. However, this type of backpacking can be dangerous unless you really know what you are doing. Before venturing on such a hike, contact an Alaska Public Lands Center.

Alaskas Mount McKinley is the highest mountain in the United States, so it is not surprising that mountain climbing draws people to Alaska adventure travel. For anglers, Alaska is a paradise for fly fishermen and bait fishermen alike. In fact, almost everybody in Alaska fishes for recreation. The principal game fish are salmon, halibut and trout.

Winter sports, of course, are popular in this most northern state. There is only one actual ski resort for the simple reason that snow covered mountains are everywhere. Cross-country skiing is much more popular among Alaskans than downhill skiing. For something really different on your Alaskan adventure travel, there are dogsled outfitters who can guide you on a dog-mushing expedition into the back country. Summer or winter, Alaska is a great place for an adventure vacation.

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Welcome to Canada. Adventure travel of every description awaits you in the worlds second largest country. From the craggy shores of Newfoundland to the majestic Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada is a vast land of unparalleled beauty. A Canada adventure travel vacation offers exciting choices for everyone.

History lovers will enjoy walking the streets of St. Johns, Newfoundland, the first European settlement in North America. Nearby Harbour Grace was once the home base of the Pirate Admiral Peter Easton. Nova Scotias Cape Breton Island features the reconstructed Fortress of Louisbourg, where interpreters in period costume take visitors back to the days of New France. At Quebec Citys Plains of Abraham the armies of Britain and France battled for control of Canada. In Ontario, Kingstons imposing Fort George was a bastion against American invasion. In Yukons Dawson City visitors can relive the excitement of the Klondike Gold Rush.

For spectacular scenery on your Canada adventure, travel Cape Bretons world famous Cabot Trail, visit Niagara Falls (one of the natural wonders of the world), or take in the magnificent vistas of Albertas Banff National Park. The Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence River offer some of the most stunning spectacles of land and water to be found anywhere. Eastern Canada is especially gorgeous in the autumn, when the forests burst out in red, gold and yellow fall colours.

Canada adventure travel has everything the boating enthusiast could ask for. Canada has more miles of seacoast than any other country, and that’s not counting the shores of those inland freshwater seas, the Great Lakes. Literally thousands of lakes dot the landscapes of Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba. Every year thousands of boaters challenge the white water of Canadian rivers in canoes and kayaks. For those who prefer a peaceful journey on quiet water, there is Ontarios historic Rideau Canal.

People who love to see wildlife in its natural habitat will find many opportunities in Canada adventure travel. Humpback whales off Nova Scotia and killer whales off British Columbia have long been favourites with visitors. Churchill, Manitoba, on the shore of Hudson Bay, is known as the polar bear capital of the world.

For the sports-minded visitor, Canada adventure travel offers everything from golf on some of the finest courses in North America, to skiing in the Laurentian mountains of Quebec or the Rocky Mountain foothills of Alberta. From coast to coast, Canada is a fishermans paradise. Trout, salmon, bass, pike and muskie are just a few of the game fish awaiting anglers.

Whether you’re visiting Anne of Green Gables Prince Edward Island home, traveling across the rolling prairies of Saskatchewan or hiking along a woodland trail on beautiful Vancouver Island, your Canada adventure travel vacation is going to be an unforgettable experience.

Canada Adventure Travel is a post from: Adventure Travel and Trekking Demystified